Screw down crown question

[Miguel Alvarez]

I have a few watches now that are automatic and have a screw down crown. I rotate them fairly often so am often unscrewing the crown in the morning winding the watch up setting the date screwing the crown back in and setting off to work. I'm a proffessional desk diver so the chances of me getting my watch wet is very minimal.

The question I'm asking is this. Am I likely to damage my watch crowns/thread by constantly screwing and unscrewing the the crown every few days?

And if so is there any issue with leaving the watch unscrewed until water proof is needed?

[RicksAlfas]

I stripped the thread on my screw down crown once and it doesn't feel that great now to be honest but that's because the watch (18 year old TAG 4000 Automatic) badly needs a service and I'm having to adjust it far too often. However I don't think it's a big job to attend to the crown during a service, although someone who knows what they are on about might disagree!

[ShadownINja]

I think it does depend on how you screw the crown back in. If you wind it the wrong way round while pushing case-wards so the crown sits square with the thread, you're less likely to cause damage, whereas just winding it and hoping for the best (what most people do), and retrying if you get resistance, unwinding and rewinding has got to be doing more damage in the long run.

[Miguel Alvarez]

As a rule. I push them in slightly (square on) and screw clockwise until it resists. Like you said somedays one will thread awkwardly but not often.

[tertius]

I agree you aren't likely to do much damage if you are careful. However, I would not leave it unscrewed whilst wearing it - this has a much higher probability of damaging/breaking off the crown as it will more than likely catch on something and it will be very easy to damage.

[RicksAlfas]

tertius said:

However, I would not leave it unscrewed whilst wearing it

My watch stops if the crown is unscrewed so this might not be an option anyway.

[ShadownINja]

RicksAlfas said:

tertius said:

However, I would not leave it unscrewed whilst wearing it

My watch stops if the crown is unscrewed so this might not be an option anyway.

That's pretty unique... 50% of my watches have screw-down crowns and none of them stop if the crown is unscrewed - only the hacking ones stop when the crown is pulled out fully to enable me to adjust the time accurately...

[andy_s]

ShadownINja said:

I think it does depend on how you screw the crown back in. If you wind it the wrong way round while pushing case-wards so the crown sits square with the thread, you're less likely to cause damage, whereas just winding it and hoping for the best (what most people do), and retrying if you get resistance, unwinding and rewinding has got to be doing more damage in the long run.

I cross-threaded my Explorer a little so you could feel the 'lump' when screwing it down, I left it till service time and it was replaced for 20/30 quid I think.

I now always do what SN describes. I think you should be alright but it pays to be a bit careful.

Service intervals are probably as much about oil and lubrification as actual wear, so service intervals shouldn't change much.

I wouldn't bother wearing with the crown unscrewed; it'll get jiggered, dusty and wet for no real benefit.

[RicksAlfas]

ShadownINja said:

RicksAlfas said:

tertius said:

However, I would not leave it unscrewed whilst wearing it

My watch stops if the crown is unscrewed so this might not be an option anyway.

That's pretty unique... 50% of my watches have screw-down crowns and none of them stop if the crown is unscrewed - only the hacking ones stop when the crown is pulled out fully to enable me to adjust the time accurately...

Sorry, sorry, sorry... just tried it now, and it only stops when I pull the crown out, not when it is just unscrewed.
As you were.

[Miguel Alvarez]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

[ShadownINja]

That would make sense (or be a cleverer option than replacing the thread inside the movement) as it is indeed piss easy to remove a crown and stem (usually, you just push a tiny button inwards which disengages the stem).